‘I have never settled for less than best. Go out for silver? No, never’

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These excerpts from our correspondent’s exclusive Times columns this year reveal the often tortured route to golden glory

FEBRUARY 24

On Jürgen Grobler, the Great Britain chief coach, revealing that Pinsent and James Cracknell, the 2002 world pairs champions, will move to the coxless fours.

“When Jürgen called the meeting it might have been for any number of housekeeping things, but as soon as he opened his mouth you could tell it was going to be big. He explained that he felt the four was the best option for the team and that James and I were going to be in it. Hammer blow to everyone in the room. Lives changed dramatically at that moment. But Jürgen was